COVID-19 Response

The outbreak of COVID-19 in Mississippi has impacted our organization tremendously.

All Volunteer Saturdays have been cancelled until further notice in order to reduce exposure to the virus.

All of our permanent fundraisers, both Neat Used Things for Sale retail locations and Plaza Bingo, are temporarily closed until further notice. Our special fundraising events, such as our Kick Up the Dust trail run, are currently postponed until it is safe to hold large gatherings again.

However, we are still trying to raise funds for the Food Pantries. Proper nutrition is vital to surviving COVID-19, as it with any virus, and our communities are in need now more than ever.

If you are missing shopping at N.U.T.S. and would like to help the communities we serve, please check out our EBAY shop!

We also have “Buy Now, Shop Later” gift cards available if you choose to make a donation. Please notate that you would like a N.U.T.S.’ gift certificate in the memo line if you make an online donation. We will mail the gift certificate to you if you are unable to pick it up at the Center.

How Have Social Services Changed?

In addition to our fundraisers being impacted, we have also restructured how we provide services.

Our clothing program has been temporarily suspended to the public. If there is an extreme emergency, please discuss the situation with a case manager.

We implemented a “Grab & Go” policy at our Soup Kitchen in Laurel, where we have our families keep a safe distance from each other while waiting for their to-go containers. We are also limiting the amount of clients allowed in our facilities at any given time and ensuring that we all keep social distancing when interacting with people both inside and outside of the organization.

We are now committing to assisting any Hinds or Jones County residents with dependents 18 & Under with a week’s worth of groceries each month, for as long as we can, while school is out during this pandemic, even if your family already receives SNAP benefits.

We are still able to take SNAP applications for those who are eligible at both Good Sam locations. Please let us know if we can assist you with an application.

We have reserved time for elderly clients in the morning at both locations. Please see the following for our updated service hours:

Please do not be alarmed when you come in and see our workers or volunteers wearing face masks and gloves. Please do not be upset if you are asked to wait outside or in your vehicle. These measures are for everyone’s safety.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call us!Laurel Social Services: (601) 426-3963 Jackson Social Services: (601) 355-6276

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Mission

The Good Samaritan Center’s mission is to assist families and individuals in emergency situations. We work closely with other organizations to form a “network of helping hands.” Our motto is “if we can’t help, we should know (or be able to find out) who can.”